John Wilkinson    Family Tree 

 Eileen Castle  Eileen   was   born   at   Warkworth   on   22   May   1949,   daughter   of   Alexander   Wilson   Castle   and   his   wife   Vera,   nee   McDougall.   She   has   one sister   Barbara   and   three   brothers,   Gordon,   David   and   Peter   plus   half   brother   Alexander   Wilson   Castle   who   was   the   son   of   her   father   and his   first   wife.   She   was   brought   up   in   Alnwick   where   her   father   worked   in   the   Post   Office.   When   she   left   Alnwick   Secondary   Modern school,   she   worked   as   a   dental   receptionist   until   her   mother   bought   a   general   grocery   shop   at   Wagonway   Road   in   Alnwick.   She   worked there   until   we   married   in   1968.   When   we   moved   to   the   midlands   in   1970,   she   worked   at   several   part   time   jobs   including   the   Marmite factory   and   Pirelli   (making   slippers),   both   in   Burton,   United   Biscuits   in   Ashby   and   Palitoy   in   Measham.   She   then   started   working   for   the Pearl   Insurance   Company   as   a   relief   collector,   covering   when   agents   were   ill   or   left   the   company.   This   lasted   for   several   years   until   the company   tried   to   get   all   payments   by   bank   standing   orders.   She   played   badminton   and   tennis   before   progressing   to   golf.   We   have enjoyed   many   holidays   including   visits   to   Canada,   America   (twice   to   Florida   and   twice   to   the   National   Parks)   and   went   on   our   first   cruise in February 2012, sailing from Southampton to Vigo, Lisbon, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Madeira, La Caruna then back to Southampton. Eileen   lost   the   sight   of   her   left   eye   in   2010.   This   was   eventually   found   to   be   caused   by   the   hole   at   the   back   of   her   eye   being   a   lot   smaller than   it   should   have   been,   eventually   blocking   off   the   blood   supply   to   the   optic   nerve.   There   is   no   cure   for   this   and   could   not   have   been prevented   even   if   she   had   been   in   hospital   when   it   happened.   In   2014   she   started   having   problems   with   her   right   eye   and   had   to   stop driving   in   August   of   that   year.   This   was   eventually   diagnosed   as   a   tumour   in   the   pituitary   gland   which   was   pressing   on   the   optic   nerve. She   underwent   28   sessions   of   radiotherapy   which   has   shrunk   the   tumour   and   partially   restored   her   sight,   at   least   enough   to   let   her   beat me at golf.

Back  Gordon and Eileen  Front Barbara Peter and David

Back Gordon, Peter, Eileen, Barbara and Alex Jnr Front Alex Snr, David and Vera

Eileen & Me 2016

Alex Snr, Eileen & Vera

Eileen